Eskdale cottage is located just over a mile from the Roman Wall and this section of Hadrian’s Wall is the most complete and the highest section of this incredible Monumental World Heritage Site.
As a World Heritage Site, Hadrian's Wall has been recognised for its international importance as an evocative monument to one of the world's greatest civilisations. Not only is Hadiran's Wall the most important structure built by the Romans in Britain, but it is the best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire.
It was constructed over a period of six years by order of the Emperor Hadrian who came to Britain in AD122. It served its purpose of 'separating the Romans from the Barbarians' for over 250 years. Today, the 73 miles from Wallsend to Bowness are studded with forts, milecastles, temples and turrets. These 2000 year-old remains are brought brilliantly to life by museums, reconstructions and fascinating visitor centres.
In 1987, the Wall was inscribed as a World Heritage Site, putting it in the illustrious company of monuments such as the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.
Hadrian's Wall links breathtaking scenery with cosmopolitan city sights, rewarding every visit with an ever changing setting and a resonant sense of history.
A little history
At the time of Julius Ceasar's first small invasion of the south coast of Britain in 55 BC, the British Isles, like much of mainland Europe was inhabited by many Celtic tribes loosely united by a similar language and culture but nevertheless each distinct. He returned the next year and encountered the 4000 war chariots of the Catevellauni in a land "protected by forests and marshes, and filled with a great number of men and cattle." He defeated the Catevellauni and then withdrew, though not before establishing treaties and alliances. Thus began the Roman occupation of Britain.
Nearly 100 years later, in 43 AD, the Emperor Claudius sent Aulus Plautius and about 24,000 soldiers to Britain, this time to establish control under a military presence. Although subjugation of southern Britain proceeded fairly smoothly by a combination of military might and clever diplomacy, and by 79 AD what is now England and Wales were firmly under control, the far North remained a problem. However, the Emperor Vespasian decided that what is now Scotland should also be incorporated into the Roman Empire.
Under his instructions the governor of Britian, Julius Agricola, subdued the Southern Scottish tribal clans, the Selgovae, Novantae and Votadini by 81 AD. Further to the North lived loose associations of clans known collectively as the Caledonians. Agricola tried to provoke them into battle by marching an army into the Highlands eventually forcing a
battle with the Caledonian leader Calgacus in present day Aberdeenshire at a place called Mons Graupius. 30,000 Caledonians were killed, but the Roman victory was a hollow one, for the next day the surviving clansmen melted away into the hills, and were to remain fiercely resistant and independent.
Today, parts of Hadrian's Wall are still visible; the line of it stretching from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west, and the fortifications continuing down the west coast to Ravenglass.
Some rules and country code
Whilst planning your holiday, remember to observe 'Every Footstep Counts' - the World Heritage Site's own country code. As you will appreciate, Hadrian's Wall is a fragile environment and the archaeology is easily damaged. You can help protect this great Wonder of the World by following the general advice below:
Always keep to the signed paths
Visit the organised paying sites which are more robust and can accommodate visitors, but please avoid walking alongside the Wall when the ground is very wet. The buried archaeology underfoot is particularly vulnerable to damage in the wet winter months between November and April.
Walking on the Wall can cause it to collapse.
Respect livestock and land.
Keep dogs on a lead.
Use public transport wherever you can.
Please see below for useful links to websites offering more information on Hadrian's Wall.
Useful links
www.hadrians-wall.org/template.asp
www.aboutscotland.com/hadrian/
www.great-britain.co.uk/regions/scots_english%20border/hadrians.htm
www.vindolanda.com/
